He labelled recycling as a "major part of our battle against climate change".

Recycling household waste, he said, was "the equivalent of taking 3.5 million cars off the road".

The research into waste collections - funded by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - found that if waste was properly wrapped there should be no hygiene concerns.

"The research shows that alternate week collections work best when the public are informed well in advance of any change," said Mr Bradshaw.

The Conservatives say the government is disregarding public opinion.

Shadow local government secretary Caroline Spelman said: "Axing weekly collections will hit families the hardest, who quite naturally produce more waste than single person households, or couples without children.

"Like many others, they will be asking whether it's too much to ask that our streets are kept clean and our bins emptied."

'Awful smell'

Some residents in areas where rubbish is collected fortnightly have complained of more rats, maggots and nasty odours.

Doretta Cocks, a Hampshire housewife who campaigns against fortnightly collections, says they are "not adequate" and "compromise public health".

She says her bin gives off an "awful smell" after 10 days, despite the rubbish being double-wrapped.

HAVE YOUR SAY

We have three bins, one for normal waste, one for recycling and one for garden waste. It works very well.